Tank filling device



Dec. 24, 1940. c. F. PYE

TANK FILLING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invent-or Qrrwpver Dec. 24, 1940. c. F. PYE

TANK FILLING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 frw rmrrPatented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs 10 Claims.

5 tanks and considerable fuel is wasted by spilling.

On farms, in the harvest time, the fuel forms a dangerous fire hazard ifspilled as it could easily start a prairie or forest fire. Many farmersand others work at night and it is extremely hard to tell when the tankis full. On combines, it is necessary to carry the fuel up a distance ofapproximately ten feet to the tank which is not only a time consumingoperation but also a tiring one. In some cases it is necessary toelevate water or other liquid a considerable distance.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a speciallydesigned valve which maybe temporarily or permanently attached to thefiller member of an elevated tank and by utilizing the low pressure inthe intake manifold or cylinder of an inlternal combustion! motorthrough a pipe to said valve, liquid may be drawn up into said elevatedtank through a secondary pipe from a lower container.

A further object of the invention is to accomplish said first-mentionedobject without waste, spilling or contamination of the liquid and soavoid the possibility of a fire, other disadvantages of such spilling orinjury to the mechanical parts of the motor through foreign particles inthe fuel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a float cut-out on saidvalve which will automatically stop the flow of liquid when the tank hasbeen filled to a predetermined level.

A further object of the invention is to construct the device so that theoperation of filling the elevated tank and shutting off the flow isentirely automatic to permit the operator to do other work whilewaiting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the classmentioned which will also disconnect the motor suction ,from saidelevated tank ii the upward flow of liquid stops from any cause, thuspreventing the collapse of said elevated tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indicator which willaudibly register that the upward liquid flow has stopped, upon a valvebeing turned.

Still further objects of the invention are, 1st, to construct the devicein a simple, cheap and durable manner; 2nd, by the use of well knownpipe fittings; 3rd, to attach such device without altering the tank ormotor; 4th, to operate same without interfering with the operation ofsaid motor and 5th, to provide means for utilizing the suction directlyfrom a cylinder of the motor.

With the above important objects in view,

which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, theinvention consists essentially, in the arrangement and construction ofparts, hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an elevated tank with theinvention installed, a pipe connection from said invention to a motorand a hose connection from said invention to a lower liquid container.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the invention andpartly showing the tank.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an inverted horizontal section taken on the line 4-4, Figure2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the suction controlvalve and associated parts.

Figures 6 and 7 are views showing various positions of the suctioncontrol valve.

Figure 8 is a view showing a modified form of indicator shut-ofi.

In. the drawings, like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several figures.

An elevated tank, to receive liquid, is indicated by the numeral l andis provided with the usual filler member 2 which comprises an invertedcup shaped extension on the top of the tank having a circular opening 3and with a cut-out 4 on either side of the opening for the lockingmembers of the ordinary cap (not shown) to pass through.

The filler valve, to be described, is generally indicated by the numeral5 and is provided with an inverted cup shaped member 6 which, when thevalve is applied to the tank, telescopes over the filler member. Theinside of the member 6 is provided with a resilient washer I looselyretained therein by a lock nut 8 screwed onto a sleeve 9 which passes upthrough an opening in the member 6, through a washer i0 and terminateswithin a T reducer l l. The large end of the T reducer threadedlyreceives one end of a coupling l2 which is adapted to receive thelitting ot a hose l3 which passes down into or connects with a lowerliquid container such as a barrel l4. The nut 8 is provided with a pair01 side lugs is which pass through the cut-outs 4 so the nut can beturned to lock the valve 5 to the tiller member 2.

The opposite small end of the T reducer II is connected to a further TIt through a nipple IT. The end of the nipple, within the T reducer ll,receives the small end of a reducer elbow it. Both the inner and outerthreads on the nipple are the same pitch so the nipple can thread intothe T and the elbow at the same time. The lower end of the elbow itreceives a short pipe. I9 which passes down through'the hollow portionof the sleeve 9 and then receives the threaded end of a bottle shapedhollow member 20 which projects into the tank I. A float 2i, having asemi-spherical upper end, is positioned within the member 20 and issupported on a pin 22 passing thereacross. The upper end of said floatis provided with an upwardly extending pin 23 which projects into theneck of the member 26 and acts as a guide for the float. A short pipe 24projects from the side of the member 20 for a purpose later described.

A reducer 25 screws into the upper end of the T I6 and inturn receives apipe 26. The other end of this pipe connects with an elbow 21 which inturn connects with a three-way valve 29 having a priming cup on the top.The other end of the valve is threaded into the intake manifold 29 of aninternal combustion motor 30.

The lower part of the T I6 threadedly receives a sleeve 3|, the upperend of which terminates near the reducer 23, thus providing a narrowpassage 32 from the nipple I1 to said reducer 25. The lower end of thesleeve 3I is closed by a disc 33, having a small hole 34 in the centrethereof. The disc is held in place by a cap 35 threaded onto the end ofthe sleeve 3|, and said cap is also provided with a central opening 36larger than 34.- A cylindrically shaped weight or indicator 31, havingcone shaped ends, is slidably positioned within the sleeve 3| and thelower end projects into and closes the opening 34 in the disc 33.

The device as shown in the drawings is in working position. The lowpressure in the intake-manifold of the internal combustion motoractsthrough the valve 28, and the parts shown, to reduce the pressure inthe elevated tank I. This,

in turn, acts through the hose I3 to draw liquid from the barrel I4 upinto the elevated tank. If, for any reason, the connection between theelevated tank and the barrel becomes clogged or stopped, the pressurewill reduce quickly in the elevated tank I. To prevent the collapse ofthe tank, the weight or indicator 31 will rise under the atmosphericpressure on the small hole 34 and close the lower'end of the reducer 25.In the normal operation however, with all pipes clear, the indicator 31will remain in the position shown and the tank I will fill up. When thelevel of the liquid, in said tank, has reached a sufllcient height, thefloat 2| will rise and the semi-spherical upper end will contact andclose the neck of the bottle shaped member 29 and the filling operationstops. The pressure is then reduced along the vacuum passage above themember 20 and the weight or indicator 31 will rise and close the lowerend of the reducer 25.

When the above operations have occurred, air leaks past the indicator3'! from the hole 34, through the passage 32 to the bottle shaped member20 and out the pipe 24 to bring the tank I back to atmospheric pressure.At this time all surplus liquid in the hose I3 drains back into thebarrel I4.

.The operator can tell if the filling operation has stopped by turningthe valve 28 to the position shown in Figure 6. If the indicator 31 isup, it will drop as the valve increases the air pressure and theoperator will hear anaudible click as the indicator strikes the disc 33.As the liquid is used up in the tank I the float 2| will descend untilit rests again upon the pin 22. During this period, air is admitted intothe tank extremely valuable at night.

I through the short pipe 24 from the three-way valve 26.

From the above, it will be apparent that liquid can be elevated from alower tank to a higher one by this method without loss of time or waste.If fuel is being elevated the flre hazard is dropped to a minimum. Theautomatic operation of the float ensures that the elevating operationwill be stopped when the tank is full. Overflow is accordingly avoidedand the operator does not waste valuable time watching the tank level.This is The operation of the weight 31 not only informs the operatorwhen the tank is full but also acts as a safety to prevent collapse ofthe tank due to the intense outside pressure if anything goes wrong withthe upward flow of the liquid. The device is very simple, being mademostly from pip fittings, no alterations are required on the tank or themotor and it can be removed quickly or left on as a permanent fixture.

If it is desired to use the device on different tanks located atdifferent heights, or if more or less pressure is required on the tank Ito lift the fuel, the washer 33 may be removed and another, having alarger or smaller hole can be substituted. The larger the hole, thehigher the pressure in the tank I before the indicator will lift andshut off the suction and conversely, the smaller the hole, the lower thepressure in the tank I before the indicator lifts.

In some cases when only two pressures are required for liquid lifting,the device shown in Figure 8 may be employed. A plug 38 is threaded intothe end of the sleeve 3|. This plug is hollow and threadedly receives awing screw 39 having an upward extension 40 provided with a central hole4|. For low pressure in the tank I, the

-weight 31 will close the hole in the extension 40' and if a highpressure is desired the wing screw can be removed or screwed down sothat the Weight closes the larger hole in the plug 38.

If a still lower pressure is required in the tank, the pipe 26 can beconnected direct to one of the cylinders of the motor. In such cases,the elbow 21 is formed into a check valve, shown in Figure 5, to preventback pressure or back fire into the valve 5 during the operation of themotor. A ball 42 rests on the end of the pipe 26 and is drawn up on theintake stroke by the reduced pressure in the cylinder. The end of thepipe 26 is provided with a slight groove 43 to permit air to leak pastwhen the three way valve is in normal position. The slight leakage whenthe back pressure from the motor o'ccurs is-not serious. A pin 44 passesacross the body of the elbow to prevent said ball from closing theopening in the nipple connecting the elbow to the valve 28. On the threestrokes of the motor (compression, expansion and exhaust) the ball seatson the end of the pipe 26.

In Figure 5, the valve 28 is shown in position for operation of thevalve 5. In Figure 6, the

valve 28 is shown in the shut-off or normal position, permitting air topass down into the tank I, In Figure 7, the valve 28 is shown in thepriming or cranking position for the motor when the pipe 26 is connecteddirect to the cylinder.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a tank filling device, a valve releasably fastened by an air tightjoint to the filler member of an elevated tank, said valve fluidlyconnecting the interior of said elevated tank with a source of suctionand with" a lower liquid con- Ill) taining tank to elevate the liquid insaid lower tank to said elevated tank, primary means for disconnectingthe interior of said elevated tank from said source of suction upon saidelevated tank filling to a predetermined level, and secondarydisconnecting means for later shutting off said suction and permitatmospheric air to enter said elevated tank.

2. In a tank filling device having a valve connecting the interior of anelevated tank with a source of suction and with the interior of a lowerliquid filled tank to raise said liquid from said lower tank to saidelevated tank, float means within said elevated tank to disconnect saidsource of suction therefrom when said elevated tank fills to apredetermined level, a weight slidably mounted and operable byatmospheric pressure, when said float means shuts oil said suction, toshut off said suction from said float means, release same, and permitatmospheric air to enter said elevated tank and drain surplus liquidback to said lower tank from said elevated tank connection.

3. In a tank filling device having a valve connecting the interior of anelevated tank with a source of suction and with the interior of a lowerliquid filled tank to raise said liquid from said lower tank to saidelevated tank, float means within said elevated tank to disconnect saidsource of suction therefrom when said elevated tank fills to apredetermined level, a weight slidably mounted and operable byatmospheric air pressure, when said float means shuts 011 said suction,to shut off said suction from said float means, release same, and permitatmospheric air to enter said elevated tank and drain surplus liquidback to said lower tank from said elevated tank connection, and manualcontrol means in said suction connection to disconnect said suctiontherefrom, admit air to said connection and cause said weight to dropand form an audible indicator.

4. In a tank filling device, a valve, comprising a T having a connectionto the interior of an elevated tank to a lower liquid filled tank, and

having a source of suction connected through said T to the interior ofsaid elevated tank, a float suspended in said elevated tank from saidvalve and adapted to shut off said source of suction therefrom when saidelevated tank fills to a predetermined level, a slidably mounted weight,operated by atmospheric air pressure when said float shuts off saidsuction, to disconnect ,said suction from said float and provide apassage for atmospheric air to said elevated tank upon the lowering ofsaid float, and manual valve means in said suction connection todisconnect said suction therefrom, admit air to said connection andcause said weight to drop and form an audible indicator.

5. In a tank filling device, a valve comprising a 1' having a fluidconnection to the interior of an elevated tank, a fluid connection to alower liquid filled tank, and having a fluid connection from theinterior of said elevated tank through said T to the intake manifold ofan internal combustion motor to raise said liquid into said elevatedtank, a bottle shaped container suspended in said elevated tank fromsaid valve and forming the end of said connection to said intakemanifold, a float supported in said bottle shaped container and adaptedto close the upper end thereof when said elevated tank is filled to apredetermined level, a slidably mounted weight carried by said valve andpositioned in said intake manifold connection and operable byatmospheric air pressure, upon a predetermined reduced pressureobtaining in said connection, to disconnect said intake manifold fromsaid elevated tank and admit atmospheric air to said elevated tank, andmanual valve means in said intake manifold connection to disconnect samefrom said intake manifold, admit air to said connection and cause saidweight to drop and form an audible indicator.

6. In a tank filling device having a source of suction connected throughan elevated tank to a lower liquid filled tank to elevate said liquid tosaid elevated tank: means for disconnecting the interior of saidelevated tank from said source of suction upon a predetermined reducedpressure obtaining in said elevated tank; said means admitting air tosaid elevated tank at atmospheric pressure upon disconnecting saidsuction; and means for varying the pressure required to operate saiddisconnecting means.

'7. In a tank filling device having a source of suction connectedthrough an elevated tank to a lower liquid filled tank to elevate saidliquid to said elevated tank: a slidably mounted weight, operable byatmospheric air pressure upon a predetermined reduced pressure obtainingin said elevated tank, to disconnect said source of suc-- tion from theinterior of said elevated tank; and means for admitting air atatmospheric pressure to said elevated tank upon said weight acting todisconnect said suction.

8. In a tank filling device having a source of suction connected throughan elevated tank to a lower liquid filled tank to elevate said liquid tosaid elevated tank: a slidably mounted weight located in a chamberfluidly connected to said elevated tank; said weight normally closing anopening to atmospheric air; said weight operable by atmospheric airpressure, upon a predetermined reduced pressure obtaining in saidelevated tank, to disconnect said suction from said elevated tank andadmit air at atmospheric pressure to said elevated tank.

9. In a tank filling device having a source of suction connected throughan elevated tank to a lower liquid filled tank to elevate said liquidtosaid elevated tank: a slidably mounted weight located in a chamberfluidly connected to said elevated tank; said weight normally closing anopening to atmospheric air; said weight operable by atmospheric airpressure, upon a predetermined reduced pressure obtaining in saidelevated tank, to disconnect said suction from said elevated tank; saidopening positioned within a replaceable annular member and adapted topermit atmospheric air to enter said elevated tank upon the operation ofsaid weight.

10. In a device of the character described, a tubular body memberadapted to be mounted on a closed tank, a passageway in said body membercommunicating with the tank and a chamber of reduced pressure, a fueldelivery tube communicating with the tank, a suitable liquid fuel supplyline extending through said body member, a shut-off valve operable whena predetermined liquid level'is obtained in the tank to close thepassageway in said body member, a safety valve adapted to be moved bythe differential of pressures inside and outside said passageway toclose said passageway beyond said shut-off valve and to admitatmospheric pressure to said passageway to release said shut-elf valve.

CARL FRASER PYE.

